Internet Connection
As long as you have a connection to the internet any type or speed of connection will work. However we really do recommend that you use a Broadband connection of at least 1MB/sec to be able to produce  and upload your adverts to our systems.

You can find out about broadband connections from BT here.

There are also many other companies that can provide broadband including.

Computer Requirements
The computer that you will need does not have to be of a very high specification and should be using the Windows XP operating system (home or professional)

To be able to demonstrate the product to your customers you will need a Laptop to take to your appointments.

The laptop can also be used to collect photographs from your camera and as a MP3 recording device when needed.

Again the laptop does not need to be of a high specification but should be using the Windows XP operating system.

If you are purchasing your first computer we recommend you purchase a laptop as this can also be used from your office/home to manage your customer's adverts.

Camera (photography)
You will need to have a camera to take pictures for your customer's adverts. The range of pictures you are likely to take will cover products, buildings, people and so on.

A general use camera will do the job just fine and we recommend a mid range camera. Generally using the camera on your mobile phone will not produce good enough images unless of course the camera is of a higher specification.

If you already have a camera that you use for your family pictures and you get good quality prints from it then that should do fine.

As a rule of thumb use the best camera you can to take pictures because when the pictures you take are uploaded to our systems the picture will be compressed to a web quality and file size and this process works best with higher quality pictures to start with.

Microphone
You will need a microphone for recording audio files for customers adverts when required as well as using your Skype software to make telephone calls over the internet.

We recommend that you purchase a V Traveller skype handset which works as a microphone for recording audio files too.

If you already have a microphone you can try out the recording quality using Windows Sound Recorder which you can find in Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Sound Recorder

Video Camera/Camcorder
The video camera would be used when creating a full page advert for a customer when using the Video Module. See 'Handy Models' advert in the demonstration site download.

Similar requirements here are the same as the Camera Requirements, mid range quality camcorder is recommended.

You may find that your camera has a video recording setting and this could be used but we have found that a dedicated video camcorder produces much better results for both sound and pictures.

Again, using a mobile phone will not produce the required quality for a video advert.

Video Editing Software
Once you have used your camcorder to record your video and/or sound you will need to produce the final video for upload to the customer's advert.

In Windows XP you can find a very capable video editing program under Start > Programs > Accessories > Entertainment > Windows Movie Maker. We used this program to create the 'Handy Models' advert in the demonstration site.

There are on line demonstrations here for using this program.

You will need to use a program called Flash Video Studio (buy and download here) to compress the final video ready for upload to the customers advert, it's priced in dollars at $49.95 which is around £26.00

MP3 Software or Recorder
The Slide Show and Video adverts can make use of a separate audio track/file.

The audio file needs to be compressed as an MP3 file before it is uploaded to the customers advert.

You can download here a piece of free software called Freecorder.

Other Recommended software downloads.
The software used to produce the adverts for the demonstration site is part of the Web Design software packages already owned by Rainbow Digital Media, that software costs £1,000's of pounds, but you don't want to buy that.

Go to our Recommended Downloads area for a complete list of all software that will be useful to you. Most are free to download and use.